Vaporizer



Feb. 14, 1939. I G; c. FLINT 2,146,809

' l vAPoRIzEn' Filed" May 17, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet `1 Feb. 14, 1939. G'.c, FLINT 2,145,809

VAPORIZER Filed May 17,- 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1939. G. C. FUNTy 2,146,809

VAPORIZER Filed May-17, 1957y I s sheets-sheet 5 Patented Feb. 14, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ananas 'Y l varomzan' Application May 17,1937, Serial No. 142,989

-7 claims.. c1. :a1-44) My invention relates to improvements invaporizers and similar devices. y

My invention relates more particularly to vaporizers of the type adaptedto be employed in the vicinity of a roll of paper or similar material.

It is a weil-known characteristic of paper, cloth, and other flexiblematerials, that are supplied in rolls, that when the same is beingunrolled, and especially a-t a' high rate of speed, there is a tendencydue to'static electricity of the adjoining surfaces, of the paper toadhere together, thereby requiring of necessity slower movement iol thepaper or other material from the roll. It is also a. well-known factthat the application of an exceedingly ne spray of vapor or mist at thepoint of contact breaking will tend to break the static electricitywhich holds the adjoining surfaces together and thus permit the paper tobe unrolled at a greater rate of speed.

Accordingly, the principal object of my inven tion is to provideimproved mechanism for producing a vapor, mist or an exceedingly nespray and discharging the same into a space directly at the point wherepaper, cloth or other material is 245v being taken from a roll, therebywetting bothsides of the material simultaneously.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means of thetype described capable of movement governed by the size of the roll, to

cause the spray to be directed at the exact point of separation upon anydesired size of roll.

A further object of the present invention is'to provide improved meansof the type described that will simultaneously project a spray or vaporI at the point of separation of material from the roll and also upon theouter edge thereof.

A further object is to provide means for automatically changing thedirection in 'which the spray is directed to conform to the size of theroll, whereby both surfaces of the entire roll of paper are subjected tothe spray. A

A further. object is to provide improved means cooperating with the rollfor securing the aforementioned adjustment.

A further object is to provide mechanism oi' the type described that iscomparatively simple in construction, yet highly eilicient and capableof long and useful service without becoming broken or out of order.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is had to the accompanying three sheetsof drawings, upon which Fig. 1 1s a front elevational view oi a standardsupporting a rollof paper or other material to which my improvedmechanism has been attached:

Fig. 2 is a lei't side elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectionalview on the same plane as ,Fig. 2 and is taken generally on the lines3-3 5 of Fig. 1; :j l l Fig..4 is a similar sectionall view showing thelocation of all of the parts after the roll has been reduced in asubstantial degree,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the 1o roll support and myimproved mechanism taken generally upon the right side of the machine asshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section oi' the vaporizer mixermechanism employed, taken gen- 15 erally on the line 6--6 of Fig. 7; and

` Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the same mechanism,taken generally on the line I-l of Fig. 6.

In the embodiment of my mechanism which I 20 have shown on the drawings,I provide generally the upright standards I0 and I2 mounted uponsuitable base members I4 and I6 positioned upon the iioor. 'Ihestandards I 2 and I 0 may be formed with the horizontally extendedbearing members 25 I8 and 20 adapted to support the rod member 22 uponwhich a roll R of paper or other material may be mounted. For runningoil the paper, as for example into a printing press, in a horizontalplane, the same may be trained over suitable roll- 30 ers 24 and 26mounted upon the shaft members 28 and 30 that are'journalled in thestandards I2 and I0. Directly above the bearing members I8 and 20 Iprovide a pair of brackets 32 and 34. The bracket member 34 may supporta vaporizer mixer 35 mechanism 36 which I employ in connection with thisinvention. This mechanism may be of the general type shown and describedin my copending application, Serial No. 43,008, iiled October 1, 1935.This mechanism, briey, is a mechanism 40 whereby air and water are mixedin suitable quantities so that throughsuitable nozzle members a veryfine spray or vapor may be produced and discharged under pressure.

Accordingly, and to carry the present invention, I extend thehorizontally disposed pipe member 38 across the width of the roll R andmount the opposite end in suitable U-members I0 upon the bracket 32. Iprovide a plurality of nozzle members 4t2-'connected 50 as disclosed inthe aforementionednvntion to the mixer mechanism 36. I also provide apair of nozzle members 44 horizontally disposed adjacent the edges ofthe roll R and secured to the pipe 38 by a suitable connector I6. A pairout the purpose of 411` 2 of follower rollers 48 are adapted to lieagainst the side of the roll R and are connected by the arm members 58to clamps 52 to secure them to the pipe member 38. A pair of brackets 54are provided clamped upon the pipe members 46 and formed with the forkedend 55 to engage the rod members 58, thus connecting together for rotarymovement the nozzles 44 and the rollers 48. I also provide a coiledspring member 56 secured to the mechanism 36 at one end and secured tothe pipe 38 at the other. The spring maybe under compression so that itis at all times tending to rotate the pipe member 38 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

As heretofore mentioned, it is desirable to direct an exceedingly nespray or mist into the crevice that is formed at the point where thesheet* of paper is leaving the roll, thus destroying the staticelectricity which tends to adhere the paper together and prevent'thefree and easy movement of the same from the roll. By thus directing amist or spray, this condition is destroyed with` the result that thepaper may be unrolled with a far greater rate of speed than heretofore-possible. The purpose of providing the horizontal nozzles 44 directedat the edge of the roll, isto assist in this action by providing a mistor spray .along the exterior edgeof the outer layer and its adjoininglayers.

The connection between the vaporizer mixer mechanism 86 and the nozzles42 and 44 may be generally accomplished by a plurality of. individualpipelines 18 and 18a which the nozzles 42 and 44 and supply to thesenozzles air under pressure and a combination of vapor, and a mist orspray of liquid.

The mixer mechanism 86 may comprise generally a housing 12 provided witha plurality of lateral passages or mixing chambers 14 to which theseveral conduits 18 and 18a are connected. The housing 12 may beprovided with a plurality of lateral ducts or openings 16, 18 and 88,the conduits 18 being attached to each of the openings 16 by suitableconnections 82, and the passageway 18 being attached by a similarconnection 84 to a vapor pipe 86 extending into theA upper portion 12aof the housing 12, while the passageway 88 is attached by a somewhatsimilar connection 88 to a tubular member 98 which extends upwardlythrough the cover plate 82 of the housing 12. The lower end of themembers 88 are screw-threaded, as shown at 94, within the member 88, andthe lower end of the member extends downward through the conduit 88 sothat the lower end projectsslightly into the lateral passage or mixingchamber 14 and is there formed to serve as a valve seat.

Suitable means, as for example the openings 8|, are provided in the Wallof the tubular member 98 to permit fluid in the housing 12 to enter themember and escape freely through the member 98 into the mixing chamber14. The spaceA between the lower end of the connection 88 and the bottomof the opening into which the same is secured, is shown provided withsuitable packing material 86 surrounding the tubular member 98 so thatthe fluid in the housing will not escape into the passage past the lowerend of the member 98.

In the form shown, a pair of needle valves 98 and |88 are providedadapted to cooperate with the passageways 18 and the lower end of themember 98 respectively to control the passage through the vapor lpipe 86and the tubular memconnect with the lower end of f vespecially truewhere ber 88 and by theird/aiiustment determine the amount of liquid anvapor drawn into the mixb/y the suction of the pipe-18a the opening 16ing chamber 14 and thence charged through to the pipe/18 and to thenozzles.

ny suitable means may be provided for controlling/ the supply of air tothe airl pipes 18a. As shown, vI provide a longitudinal passageway |82in the housing 12 connected by a suitable pipe |84 with a source of airunder pressure.

A plurality of tubes/lafo'ne for each nozzle 42 or 44, communicate'withthe chamber |82 through the port |86. A needle valve |88 for each pipe18a is provided to control the opening between the passage |86 and thechamber |82, thus controlling the amount of air passing to eachindividual nozzle.

In the preferred construction of the vaporizer mixer mechanism shown, Iprovide a float valve ||8 directly connected to control the liquidsupply through the pipeline ||2 which communicates with housing 12. Ialso provide suitable means in the form of an electrically operatedthermostat ||4 and the electric heater |I6 for maintaining the fluid inthe housing at a constant temperature. Both of these elements may be ofwell known construction, the thermostat being preferably located at theupper level of the fluid in the housing, and the heating elementconnected thereto so that the electric current to the heating elementwill always be controlled by the thermostat and thus maintain the uid inthe housing at the desired temperature.'

With the construction, as pointed out, it will be obvious that thedevice is provided with the necessary air and liquid supply andconnected to a suitable source of electrical energy so that with theneedle valves controlling the flow of fluid through the pipes 18 and18a, and which can be adjusted to secure the desired density as well .asvelocity of the vapor as it issues from the jets 42 and 44, it isobvious that the density of the fluid or spray and each one of the jetsis independently controllable. It is further obvious that thetemperature of the liquid in the housing may be emplyed to provide avaporin the upper portion 12a of the housing as dense or as attenuatedas may be desired, from a very Wet steam down to a-very slight or almostimperceptible humidity, and that when such vapor is mixed with apositively controlled volume of fluid under the mixing chamber 14through the pipe 88, the resultant vapor may be as dense or asattenuated as may be desired.

It is obvious that when the device is suitably adjusted changes inatmospheric humidity will tend to require changes in the volume of vapordischarged from the several nozzles. This is material is being preparedfor some special process, such as, for example, charging cloth with aglazing or stiffening material, or when'moistening paper to receiveprinted impressions or the like', and in such cases the changes inatmospheric' humidity render it desirable to adjust the volume of vaporbeing supplied to the moving web.v

Suitable mechanism forl making a uniform change in all of the .jets mayinclude the bell cranks |28 connected to the upper ends of the pipes toall of the bell cranks. This lever may, of course, be moved eithermanually or in any desired manner if connected to the mechanism.

-By reason of the coiled spring member 66 and 98, and the operatinglever |22 connected' is automatically controllable obvious that as thesize of the roll diminishes the pipe member 38 will be rotated in acounterclockwise direction, at all times holding the center of thenozzles 42 directed to the'center of the crevice formed by the outerlayer of paper leaving th'e roll. 'I'his action is accomplished byreason of the rollers llVwhich bear against the roll andas the rolldiminishes in size the spring member 56 is permitted to rotate the pipe38, thus moving allff the nozzles and automatically keeping themcentered upon the edge and the outer layer of paper.

By directing the spray or mist into the crevice that is formed at thepoint where the sheet o f paper leaves the roll, it will be obvious thatboth sides of the paper are being moistened simultaneously and to-thesame degree. This action has a very beneicial advantage in the use ofpaper for printing, in that it is a well known fact that moistened paperwill take thinner inks and the same will' adhere much more readily.'I'hus it can be seen that a saving in ink is'also eiected as Well as anincrease in the speed with which the paper can be used.

Another very effective result of applying a spray or mist to the sheet'of paper as it leaves the roll is to prevent the production of paperdust, which is well known to those skilled in the art, as a verydetrimental factorto speed of operation and cleanliness in a paperprinting plant. 'I'he provision of a spray eiectively eliminates allpossibility of paper dust with the result that it is not necessary toshut down the paper handling machinery at any time during the day toremove the dust which ordinarily gathers without the use oi my improvedvaporizer.

While I have described this invention in connection with the speciilctype of mechanism for providing the kind of spray desired as shown inthe4 heretofore mentioned application, it will be obvious that othermeans may be employed to provide the desired kind of spray or mist.

While I have illustrated a specic embodiment of the invention, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modificationsmay be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to limit myselfin any particular.

Rather, what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In apparatus for moistening a continuous sheet of paper on a roll bydirecting a vapor into the crevice formedwhere the sheet is leaving theroll and against the opposite edges of the roll at a point adjacent theunrolling of the sheet therefrom, `the combination of a mixingchamber, apipe line extending horizontally therefrom and parallel to ahorizontally mounted roll of paper, a plurality of nozzles secured inthe side of said pipe and directed toward the crevice, a pair ofangularly disposed extensions on said pipe, a nozzle on each of saidextensions dis.

posed parallel'to said pipe and directed upon opposite sides thereoftoward a point adjacent the periphery of the roll of paper at the pointof the unrolling of the sheet therefrom, all of said nozzles connectedto said mixing chamber and vmeans for rotating said pipe in accordancewith the size of the roll of paper which is being moistened.

2. In apparatus for moistening a continuous sheet of paper on a roll bydirecting a vapor into the crevice formed where the sheet is leaving theroll' andagainst the opposite edges 'of the roll at a point. adjacentthe unrolling of the from said mixing chamber and parallel to` ahorizontally mounted roll of paper, av plurality of nozzles secured inthe side of said pipe and directed toward the crevice, a pair of'angularly disposed lextensions on said pipe, a nozzle on each of saidextensions disposed parallel to said pipe and directed upon oppositesides thereof toward a point adjacent the periphery of the roll oi'paper at the point of the unrolling of the sheet therefrom, all of saidnozzles connected to said mixing chamber and means for rotating saidpipe in accordance with the size of the roll of paper which is beingmoistened, said means including a loaded spring connected to said pipeand roller means'controlled by said spring 'and bearing against theouter surface of said' roll of paper.

3. In apparatus for moistening a continuous sheet of material bydirecting a continuous supply of vapor into the crevice formed where thesheet is leaving the roll, the combination of a pair of verticalstandards, means for supporting a roll of material in a horizontalposition there# between, a pair of brackets above said means, a mixingchamber and a horizontal pipe disposed upon said brackets, means forrotating said'pipe, means for controlling the rotation of said pipe inaccordance with the size of the roll of material mounted between saidstandards, and a plurality of nozzle members mounted on said pipe andconnected to said mixing chamber, said nozzle members directed into thecrevice formed where the material is leaving the roll, the rotation ofthe pipe being controlled to constantly direct Kthe nozzle memberstoward the crevice of the roll of paper as it diminishes in size.

4. In apparatus for moistening a continuous sheet of material bydirecting a vapor into the crevice formed where the sheet is leaving theroll, the combination of a pair of vertical standards, means forsupporting a roll of material in a horizontal position therebetween, apair of brackets above said means, a mixing chamber and a horizontalpipe disposed upon said brackets, means for rotating said. pipe, `meansfor controlling the rotationof said pipe in accordance with the size ofthe roll of material mounted between said standards, said meansincluding a 'loaded spring connected to said pipe and .rollers -the rolland against the opposite edges of the roll at a point adjacent theunrolling of the sheet therefrom, the combination of a horizontallydisposed pipe member mounted above a roll of paper, stationary supportmembers therefor, a plurality of nozzle members secured in spacedrelation in the side of said pipe and directed toward the crevice, saidnozzle members con nected to a source of vapor under pressure, a pair ofpipe members extending at right angles to said horizontal pipe, a pairof nozzle members therein directing toward the crevice at the oppositeedges of the roll of paper, means for rotating said pipe and means forcontrolling the rotation thereof in accordance with the size oi the rollof paper against which said nozzles are directed, said last named meansincluding a loaded spring member connected between a stationary supportand saidv horizontally disposed pipe member and a pair of rollersdisposed against the outer side oi said roll of paper and `rigidlyconnected to said horizontal pipe.

6. In apparatus for moistening a continuous sheet of paper on a roll bydirecting a vapor into the crevice formed where the sheet is leaving theroll and against the opposite edges of the roll at a point adjacent theunrolling of the sheet therefrom, the combination of a horizontallydisposed pipe member mounted above a roll of paper, stationary supportmembers therefor, a plurality of nozzle members secured in .spacedrelation in ,the side of said pipe and directed toward the crevice, saidnozzle members connected to a source oi vapor under pressure, means forrotating said pipe and means for controlling therotation thereof inaccordance with the size of the roll o! paper against which said nozzlesare directed, said last named means including a loaded spring memberconnected between a stationary support and said horizontally disposedpipe member and a pair of rollers disposed against the outer side o!said roll of paper and rigidly connected to said horizontal pipe. f

7. In apparatus for moistening a horizontally disposed continuous sheetof paper on a roll by directing a vapor into the crevice formed wherethe sheet is leaving the roll, the combination of a mixing chamber,means extending horizontally therefrom across the roll of paper beingunrolled single spray means associated with said horizontal rmeansdirected into the crevice and adapted to spray both sides of the papersimultaneously as the same is being unrolled, and automatic means)associated with said single spray means for gradually changing thedirection in which said means are pointed as the size of said roll ofpaper means including rollers engaging the roll ot paper and meansconnected between said rollers and said single spray means for changingthe direction the single spray means is pointed as the size o! the rollof paper diminishes.

GEORGE C. FLINT.

diminishes said automatic u

